Buy the Book

Register

Registered members enjoy free and full access to all my independent reviews, can post comments on reviewed hotels and restaurants and will receive regular updates and member-only offers.
Click here to sign up - it's free!

About The Restaurant

Man Friday Restaurant is undoubtedly one of Kinsale’s most popular restaurants, and indeed probably its oldest restaurant. There is always a fantastic buzz to the place and great food to boot. It has been owned since 1978 by Philip and Joss Horgan who not only run a tight ship but are very welcoming and hospitable. There is a distinctly tropical feel to the place as you go down the palm covered walkway to the door before perching yourself on the palm tree stumps for a pre-dinner drink at the bar. You sort of feel you are escaping from reality for a few hours. The restaurant is called Man Friday because both the author of the story, Daniel Defoe, and the subject of same, Alexander Selkirk, sailed in and out of Kinsale. Defoe came in 1690 as part of John Churchill’s expeditionary force to capture the harbours of Cork and Kinsale, and Selkirk sailed from Kinsale in 1703. It has a great location overlooking Kinsale’s stunning inner harbour. It is split over four levels so you have a choice of being tucked away in a cosy room at the back of the restaurant, the buzzy bar area, or the conservatory section with its views. They also have a sun terrace section perfect for those aperitifs or afters… Anyway, to the food. One thing one could always be sure of at Man Friday was the best of locally caught seafood. I have had over the years cracking sole on the bone which for me is the Kinf of Fish. They also do a great turbot dish with crab and a light peppercorn sauce as well as a delicious hot seafood platter. But to get back to the beginning. The food here is top of the range whether you have crab au gratin to start or maybe a half dozen oysters. Scampi comes with a sweet and sour sauce; hot oysters are poached in their own juices in a beurre blanc sauce; smoked salmon rolls are stuffed with prawns. If you are not into fish there is deep fried Brie with plum and Port sauce or maybe a warm salad of chicken breast, crispy bacon, croutons, roasted pine nuts and fresh fruit. Something for everyone. Apart from their beautiful seafood they do cracking sirloin and fillet steaks which you can have plain or “au Poivre” or with Bearnaise sauce or Bourguignonne sauce. They also do a lovely herb crusted rack of new season lamb with red wine and rosemary jus and Duck Armagnac which is with a nectarine and Brandy sauce which is to die for. Vegetables are included with main courses and are always lavish and scrumptious – the gratin potatoes – wow. Main courses run generally from €23 - €31.95 with sole attracting market price. You can follow up, if you have room, with maybe fresh strawberry shortcake with strawberry and vanilla sauce, or raspberry and rhubarb crumble with crème Anglaise. What I love is the apricot glazed pear, toffee and almond tart with vanilla ice cream. They have an extensive selection of wines for all pockets, including a selection of House Wines from €22 and half bottles. They also have an Early Bird Menu at €25 from 6pm – 7.30 pm Sunday to Friday. One way or another you are guaranteed delicious food and fun at Kinsale’s longest established restaurant – Man Friday.